Switch-signaling device.



No. 635,130. Patented Dot. 17,1899. C. FEARON & W. E. BRADLEY.

SWITCH SIGNALING DEVICE.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1898,.)

(No Model.)

Urra- A'rnnr rricn,

PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-SIGNALING DEVICE.-

SPEGIIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,130, dated October 17, 1899.

Application filed April 9, 1898. Serial No. 677,007. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom t mag/,conceiva- Be it known that we, CHARLES FEARON and WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, citizens of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switch-Signaling Devices, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the vaccompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

Our invention relates torailroad switchsignaling devices, and has for its object to provide an electric signal o r signals so connected with the movable rail of a switch as to be actuated thereby and to indicate at proper places the condition of the switch; and particularly our object is to provide apparatus for effecting these purposes at once simple and at the same time constructed so as to be free from liability to injury in the ordinary exigencies of use.

The nature of our improvements will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings, in which they are 'illustrated, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch, indicating a portion of our apparatus as used in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the casing, which, with its attachments, forms an important feature of our invention, taken on the section-line l l of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the casing, taken as on the sectionline 2 2 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement and connection of signals and signal-actuating devices which we prefer to employ.

A and A indicate the two xed rails ofthe main track and a siding.

B is the second rail of the main track, having a movable switch-point b', and B2 is the secozrid rail of the switch having the movable pin C is a base-plate or box secured permanently below one of the movable switch-points, as b', and provided with bearings,as indicated at C O, to support the movable casing, which isindicated at D, d indicating a removable face to the casing.

D and D2 are trunnions extending from the casing, one portion being made in the form of a tube, as indicated, lopening at one end and also through a lateral opening d2 into the center of the casing D with a concavelycurved top face D3, in close proximity to which rests the movable point b of the switch, the arrangement being such that as the switchpoint is moved to one side or the other it will cause the casing D to oscillate on its bearings,

' while at the same time in each position of the switch-point thehcasing is in a definitely-determined position.

The plan shown for communicating motion from the switch-point to the casing is a simple one and well adapted for the purpose; but it must be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the use of any particular device for communicating an oscillating motion to the casing corresponding to the reciprocating motion of the switch-point.

E indicates a stufiing-box.

F is a tube made of some electrical conducting metal and secu red to theend of the casing D, as shown. Preferably it is made with a longitudinal curve, as indicated, and it is provided with end caps, through. which project conducting line-terminals G and G', insulated from electrical contact with the metal of the tube.

II indicates a switch for making contact between the tube and the electrical conducting-terminals at its ends, and in our preferred construction, as shown, it consists of a globule of mercury, which, coming in contact with other terminals, places it in electrical connection with the body of the tube and through it with the casing. It will be understood that in substance this device consists of two line-terminals secured to but out of electrical Contact with the body of the casing and used in combination with a gravity-switch so suspended in the casing that as said casing Oscillates from one side to the other it will at determined points Ain the oscillation comeinto contact with the terminals and place them in electrical connection with the casing and through it with the ground. The use, therefore, of the conducting-tube as a device for supporting the gravity-switch is not essential, although for many reasons we prefer and recommend its use.

I and I' indicate circuit-wires connecting IOO with the terminals G and Gr', and at their other ends connecting with a single line-wire I2, of which they form branches, and which, as shown, passes through a battery K to ground, (indicated at J'.)

I3 I4 indicate a circuit connected with the battery K, the line-wire I3 terminating in a switch-plate M, while the line-wire I4 terminates in a switch M, normally held in contact with the plate M by a resilient force, such as spring M2.

L indicates the electromagnet situated in the line-wire I2 and so placed as to act upon the switch M and draw it out of con-tact with the switch-plate M.

N is a signal-as indicated, a call-bell in the circuit I3 I4.

O and O are electromagnets placed opposite to each other in the branch lines I and I and arranged so as to act upon an armature P of an indicating-finger P.

At f I have indicated what is at the same time a modification of the gravity-switch already described and also an advisable addition to the signaling system as a whole. It consists of a tube like the tube F, though, as shown, it is straight and not curved, and is provided with a terminal, as indicated at C, only at one end, h indicating the globule of mercury constituting the gravity-switch and indicating the line circuit-wire extending from the terminal g through a battery 7c and signal n to a ground j. It is obvious that the single terminal-switch, such as indicated at f, will connect the line-wire to ground when GQ thus closing the circuit from ground through casing, metal-tube switch-globule II, terminal Gr', and lines I and I2 to ground J.

YThe energizing of the magnet O causes the indicator P to be drawn toward it, as shown, and the energizing of the magnet L draws and holds the switch M out of contact with the plate M. A movement of the switch-point to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 2 causes the gravity-switch globule II to assume a position between and out of contact with both terminals Gr and G, so that no current passes through the circuit connected with the battery K, and therefore the indicator P will. assume a forward position midway between the magnets O and O, while the magnet L, not being energized, will release its hold on the switch M, permitting it to close and to close the circuit I3 I4, whereupon the bell or other circuit (indicated at N) will be actuated, indicating that the .switch has notl been properly set. Again, if the movement of the switch has been complete it will tilt the casing D in the other direction from that indicated in Fig. 4, bringing the globule H into contact with the terminal G and closing the circuit through the branch line I and line I2, with the result of attracting the indicator P toward the right, while at the same time the energizing of the magnet L will open the circuit I3 I4.

Vhere it is only desired to indicate whether the switch is in one certain position or not or where it is desired to provide this indication in addition to those provided for in the abovedescribed device, the singleterminal-switch (indicated at F) can be conveniently used, its operation being to actuate the signal N in one position and not in any other position of the switch or casing.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an electrical switch-signaling device, a casing as D, having a concave upper face D3 and oscillatable in proper bearings, in combination with one or more line-terminals situated in and movable with said casing, a gravity-switch suspended in the casing and adapted to make and break contact with the terminal or terminals as the casing oscillates from one position to the other, and a switchrail situated immediately over and in operative position with respect to the face D8 of the casing and so as to turn the casing as it is moved and thus shift the terminals with reference to the gravity-switch.

2. In an electrical switch-signaling device, a casing as D, having a concave upper face D3 and oscillatable in proper bearings, in combination with a tube of copper or other conducting material having aline terminal or terminals at its end or ends projecting into, but insulated from, the tube, a globule of mercury contained in the tube and adapted when at the end or ends thereof to electrically connect the tube and terminal, and a switch-rail situated immediately over and in operative position with respect to the face D3 of the casing and so as to turn the casing as it is moved and thus shift the terminals with reference to the gravity-switch.

3. In an electrical switch-signaling device, the combination with a battery, a circuitwire as I2 connected therewith and in turn connected to two branch wires, as I I', of an indicator, as P, amagnet, as O O', in each branch Wire arranged to actuate the indicator in different directions, a signal-circuit as I3 I4, a switch in said circuit and resilient means, as a spring, acting to close said circuit, an electromagnet in the line-wire I2 arranged to act upon said switch, and hold it open when energized, a switch arranged to move between the terminals of the branch wires I I and to close the circuit from the battery when in contact with either of them, a switch-rail and means for moving the electrical switch in accordance with the move- IOO IIO

sWitch suspended in the casing between saidterminals and arranged to make contact with one or the other in the extreme positions of the casing, a third line-terminal also situated in and moving with the casing, a gravityswitchv situated in the casing and arranged to make Contact With the terminal in one posi tion thereof, signaling devices connected With the terminal, a switch-rail, and means for communicating motion from the rail to the casing as specified and so as toshift the terminals with reference to the gravityswitch.

CHARLES FEARON. WILLIAM 11. BRADLEY.

Witnesses CHASLH. DoUGfHmrrYj J. JAY BROWN, J oHN STRAWBRIDGE. 

